Highs and lows
Gary McKenzie on the emotional highs and lows of racing There were worrying scenes at Ascot last week after the top-rated chaser, Cyrname, fell at the last fence. It was a horrible fall (as...
Author: Gary McKenzie
Gary McKenzie’s early thoughts on the Festival’s novice races
Gary McKenzie’s early thoughts on the Cheltenham Festival’s novice races Less than a month to go and it’s time for an early look at the novice races. It all starts with the ROAR! The...
The ‘machine’ is in full working order
The ‘machine’ is in full working order The Dublin Racing Festival was just brilliant. And the headlines were dominated by a twelve-year-old novice chaser. Faugheen won his third race over fences, beating Easy Game....
Paisley the prince but Buttons is the queen
Paisley the prince but Buttons is the queen Many comment that the National Hunt season is too centred around the Cheltenham Festival. I disagree as I think it one of the great sporting events...
Sacre bleu! What a darling horse
It is not often that the final race of a meeting on a Wednesday in January attracts a lot of attention. But the closing bumper, or the Premier Food Courts Standard Open National Hunt...
Five-day Festival? Forget it
It is only January but Cheltenham is already dominating the sport we all love. Chiefly because there is a debate regarding the greatest show on turf. When I was young Cheltenham took place over...
Nicholls first eleven, Welsh wizardry and a lean Machine
Poor old Clan des Obeaux. Usually the winner of the King George would steal all the headlines. Especially one winning his second consecutive Kempton showpiece. But due to the surfeit of top class racing...
A feast for St Stephen
A feast for St Stephen’s day Boxing Day is great for a sports nut like me. A full programme of football, top rugby games, and, this year, there are two test matches in the...
Memories are made of this
On December 20th 2003 myself, my two children, and my parents had planned to go to Ascot for their Christmas meeting. The day was cold and frosty and there was an early inspection called...
It made me Tingle
It made me Tingle There was a lot of hype surrounding the Tingle Creek Trophy Chase of 2004. It was well founded. The favourite, Azertyioup, had won the Queen Mother Champion Chase and, on...